KELBURN EPIDEMIC RELIEF COMMITTEE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 60, 5 December 1918, Page 3

KELBURN EPIDEMIC RELIEF COMMITTEE

The following report lias been supplied of the work or the Kelburn Relief Committee- covering the period from tho start of the epidemic:— A meeting was convened by 3fr. T. Gray on Thursday, November U, nnd all those present decided immediately to divide the, district iuto blocks and canvass each honae to Rscertain all cases of influenza in tho Kelburn district. The infant schoolroom was granted for use us a depot, and Professor Hunter gladly offered to direct the operations from this central , depot. The Postal authorities very promptly supplied a telephone for the use of the committee. The cnnvnss of the district soon revealed that the epidemic had jot a good hold, and it is snfe to say 'thut ifc had boen_ in the -district some time and in a virulent form for about a week before the committee was set up. The committee were at once 'brought to face with very serious cases of'pneumonia ind other complications without having ; ny advico from the authorities as to treatment, and they also found it practically impossible to obtain the services of doctors. Tho committee on their own initiative ordered a simply of such iiiedicino ns was deemed would give relief m.til (1) doctors were available, or (2) flin Health Department supplied a standard medicine. Gn rgles and disinfectants .were ■ nlso, obtained, and- at tho same time, j Hirojiffh the ingenuity of Professor i Clarke, an inhalation chamber was installed, nnd was available to Hie residents on November 16. ■ An energetic band of helper? immediately set to work to nurse the siclc, fo supply medicine and food. An abundant supply of food was.generously given by a large number of residents, so much, that nearly every day a surplus was' available to hand over to the hospitals or the Town Hall Committee. For tho purpose of transporting the food, medicine, and nurses, the Boy Scouts gave very valuable assistance, nnd to the orders of tho committee without a t/iurmur, and .ten privnto motor-cars were voluntarily placed at .the disposal of Hie workers. Without these curs it would have been impossible to have covered tho work. The ordinary influenza eases were not difficult to deal with by the above organisation, but in the absence of. a properly-organised medical and • nursing service, the serious cases could not be effectively. d°alt with. After a few dr.ys, when the "block" medical system was agreed on, the fommi'.tee were able tit give the best attention to bad case? also, although throughout they never h."d sumVii'yit trained nurses. The committed, realising, the scarcity of doctor? nnd tho. enormous eround «eh had to covnr, nnd therefore their inability to cull on every case, made a careful' exnminn'mn of all enscs and arranged for the doctors to call oi'ly on those ccfiially rprtnirin? medical aid. The «>mmift<«> npiirccitv-p. highly the services rendered V. r - P*.se in reporting on the co"dition and recommending the «is?s v.-V.eh required a doctor. The committee- believe that their efforts have • Jar.eely contributed to the arrest, of th» epidemic in the district, and prevented very many enses developing into the dnngerous stage.

The committee acknowledge the attfniiii in'ven to their calls by Dts. Fyffe, M'Evedy, Paterson, and Young. They nlso thank those laditrf who nursed and helped in infected homes, and fill the ladies who worked strenuously day and night in other directions, and for the supplies of food generously given by the Kelburn residents. The sales of medicines, fruit, sodawater, etc., yielded about and this amount nearly paid all expenses. The committee acknowledge tho following donations to tho relief fund:—E. P. Hay, £3 35.; Ellis and Manton, .£2 2s. j Mrs. Farquhar, JB1; James Broadhonse, £\. At. a meeting of workers held on November 28 the following resolutions were curried:—"That this committee of holper3 do not disband until the demobilisation of the soldiers is completed, and hold themselves in reserve to be called upon to resume activities should further epidemic make its appearance in this or neighbouring countries." "That this committee recommend the Health Department, in the event of a further epidemic nDpearing in other countries, to have full cabled information of the nature of the malady and the treatment necessary to combat same. Pull particulars of treatment to bo availnble to the public immediately an outbreak occurs in New Zealand or neighbouring States. In case of n similar outbreak the Henlth Department to havo an arrangement with the Doctors' Association to immediately serve the city medically on tho 'block' system."